Grace Ryba
Executive Director · she/her
Grace is an animal advocate with experience working across strategy, policy analysis, and project execution. She has evaluated grants at the EA Funds Animal Welfare Fund, conducted movement research and strategy at Animal Ask, and helped shape campaigns pushing for policy change for animals around the world. Her expertise brings together economics, fish biology, political systems, and data analysis, and she holds a PhD in environmental policy and marine biology. Outside of work, she is the proud parent of two special-needs rescue dogs, Max and Shiloh 🐶🐶. She lives and works on Kaurna land (Adelaide, Australia).
Note: Grace formerly used the name Ren; both are fine.
Rocio Alba Navarro
Head of Operations · she/her
Rocio has worked in the world of grantmaking operations for over a decade. She has extensive experience in high-impact philanthropy and has spent much of her career making sure money gets to the people and causes that need it most. In addition to developing operational systems that support effective giving, she has managed complex grant portfolios spanning global health, farmed animal welfare, human rights, and land justice. She has a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management. Outside of work, she can often be found acting as a couch to her tabby furball, Mitzy 🐱.
Max Taylor
AI Advisor · he/him
Max is a grantmaking officer at Animal Charity Evaluators, where he helps allocate ACE's Movement Grants fund to animal advocacy work in neglected areas. He is involved in various projects helping make AI a positive force for animals, including writing the book AI, Animals, and Us (HarperCollins, 2027) and co-writing the Sentient Futures newsletter. Before ACE, he spent six years in U.K. Civil Service policy roles, including leading the government's Animal Welfare Market Interventions team.
